Post frame structure



Oct. 17, 1944. 4 F KAU'T 2,360,688

' POST FRAME STRUCTURE Filed May 5. 1942 M uw um; 04

dition of heat dissipation.

Patented Oct. 17, 1944 UNITED v STATES PATENT OFFICE POST FRAME STRUCTURE Frederick Kautz, Philadelphia, Pa. Application May 5, 1942, Serial No; 441,832

6 Claims.

This application is a'continuation in part, of my pending application on Structural framing elements, filed January 15, 1941, Serial #374,568.

The invention relates generally to a development of frame structures in screens, enclosures, partitions, bins, panels, etc. More particularly, it deals with post structures destined as intermediate stiffening members and frame elements for meshed material of various kind in extended panel or partition structures or the like of welded construction, said posts being also utilized, if desired, for load-sustaining purposes, such as carrying of shelving, or reinforcing of wall structures in buildings.

In welding meshed material to frame elements, difficulties have been encountered mostly due to the difference in thickness of the frame and the mesh and the resulting discrepancy in heat dissipation and absorption which easily cause burning of the delicate mesh before fusion is obtained.

It is therefore one of the main objects of the invention to provide "such intermediate post structures which can be simultaneously used as suitable frame elements for the adjacent mesh material to be fastened thereto by welding.

It is another object of the invention to provide said posts of a design that creates the most favorable condition .to facilitate and accelerate the welding of the mesh to the frame post, especially eliminating the mentioned disadvantageous con A further object of the invention is to provide said posts of composite nature in which the assembling of the parts and the attaching of the mesh are performed'by same welding procedure. Additional objects is to provide strong and rigid posts to be also used for load sustaining purposes and that these features may be obtained by an arrangement of a definite material and weight saving.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention will be apparent from the following de-- scription considered in conjunction'with the accompanying drawing, wherein 1 Figure l is a fragmentary perspective View of an intermediate post constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a cross section of structure.

Figure 3 is a cross section of a post constructed from an angle bar and flat plate member.

Figure 4 is a cross section of a post structure fabricated from three separate flat plate members, the central plate being inclined with respect to the other plate members.

an integral post Figure 5 is a similar view of 'a post but of integral structure.

Figure 6 is a cross section of a post constructed from three plates, the central plate being disposed at right angles to theother plates, and

the mesh material is secured between adjoining edges of the respective plates.

1 Figure 7 is a modification of the form shown in Figure 6, with the medial plate disposed at an angle.

Figure 8 is a perspective view illustrating the 7 use of intermediate posts in conjunction with top thereto.

and bottom edging strips.

According to the present invention, the intermediate stiffening posts are of substantially Z shape as seen in cross section. The edge portions of mutually adjacent sections of meshed material being laid in lapped relation to the central flange portion of the post and welded thereto on opposite sides, or, in another modification, a

'Z-post is composed of flat strip bars or flanges and the edges of the mesh material are interposed between the opposite extreme edges of the central strip bar or flange and the abutting edges of the respective lateral bars. For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference is now made to the accompanying drawing. In Figure 1 thereris shown an intermediate post I0 consisting of a central flange piece II having lateral stiffening flanges I2 secured in abutment with respective edge portions of the central flange piece I I and at right angles The flanges II and I2 are secured by welding as indicated at I3. Screen Web sections I4 are provided, respective edge portions being laid in overlapped relation to the central flange I I and welded thereto on.opposite sides, the

screen web sections extending in opposite directions; from the central flange.

In Figure 2 the intermediate post I 0' is shown as integrally formed with right angular stiffening flangesIZ. The screen web sections I 4 are welded tothe central portion II as shown.

A further form of Z-shaped post is shown in Figure 3, and in this instance, the post consists of an angle section I5 to the flange I6 of which arflat flange member I1 is abutted and welded thereto. It will be noted that the member I! extends at right angles to the flange I6 and in opposite direction to the flange I6 thereof. The

material being extended from this central flange at a slight angle, instead of being laid thereagainst by virtue of placing the intermediate flange at a slight angle. Transverse stiffening flanges are secured to the central flange, extended at a right angles to the plane of the screen web material. It should be noted that the screen web sections lie in a common plane.

A modified form of the structure of Figure 4 is illustrated in Figure 5, but in thisinstance the central piece l9 and the stiflfening flanges 20' are integrally formed.

In Figure 6, the central flange 2| has respective screen web sections 22 lapped with opposite edges a short distance, and the lateral reinforcing flanges are butted against the screen web in alignment with the extreme edges of the central flange with the extreme edge portions of the screen web members projected inwardly -of the lateral flange, so that welding material 23 may be deposited upon the edge portion of the screen material in lapped relation to join the central flange and respective lateral flanges.

Figure '7 illustrates a development of the structure shown in Figure 6, in such manner that.

there is no effect of the two sections of screen material 22' from each other, the central or intermediate flange 24 being inclined slightly to the plane of the screen material, but the lateral flanges 25 are disposed at right angles to the plane of the screen material, so that the stiffening structure, in cross section, has a little more of a Z-shape than in Figure 6.

Figure 8 illustrates a section of fencing, partition or other structure in Figure 2, and in which a top edging 26 and a bottom edging 21 are incorporated between the posts 10' and the longitudinal edges of the screen web material. The edging in the present instance consists of two straps of metal held together at a proper angle, as illustrated, while the web material is secured between abutting edges of the straps by welding. The edgings give a finished appearance to the fencing, partition, etc., and by arranging the straps at an angle, liability of accumulation of dust or foreign matter is minimized.

The constructions shown in Figures 1 to 5 are best adapted for heavier web materials, while the forms shown in Figures 6 and 7 are preferred in securement of lighter material, since the weld-,

ing heat can be directed to the heavy bars rather than the delicate mesh material. It will be apparent that the heat is absorbed and dissipated by the bars and the mesh thus preserved, which contributes to speeding up the welding procedure considerably.

Also, the lateral projecting flanges of the posts perform a dual function, namely, providing means for securement of the mesh material, as well as strengthening the posts for sustaining loads where required.

It will be apparent that by using the central portion of the post for. the welding base for the screen material, weight is reduced and a considerable saving in material is effected.

It should be understood that the mesh material employed may be any and all commercial kinds, sitich as wire screens, wire mesh, expanded metal, e c.

While I have shown and described preferred constructions, this is by way of illustration only, and I consider as my own all such modifications in structure as fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A frame member for structures of the character described and a web attached thereto, said frame member being substantially Z-shaped in cross section and having the transverse central bar portion disposed substantially in the direction of said web and having flanges disposed at an angle to the web, and said web having sections oppositely extended from said frame member and respective marginal portions of said web sections being attached to opposite sides of said central bar portion. I

2. The structure of claim 1, in which said central bar portion is disposed at an oblique angle to its outer parts and to said web, said web sections at opposite sides of the frame member being disposed in a common plane.

3. The structure of claim 1, in which respective web sections are attached to said central bar adjacent respective lateral edges thereof and on opposite sides of the plane of the bar, the flanges of the frame member consisting of strips of material set against the web material outwardly of the point of attachment of the web material to said central bar, the means of attachment comprising weld material united with both the central bar and said strips, and around the projecting edge portions of the web material, for the purposes described.

4. The structure of claim 1, in which the central bar of said frame member is disposed at an acute angle to its flanges, respective web members being attached to said central bar adjacent and on opposite sides of the plane of the bar, the flanges of the frame member consisting of strips of material set against the web material outwardly of the point of attachment of the web material to said central bar, the means of attachment comprising weld material united with both the central bar and said strips, and around the projecting edge portions of the web material, for the purposes described.

5. A structural element comprising a web sustained by a combination of support members, each of which includes an intermediate post structure substantially Z-shaped in cross section and having the transverse central bar portion disposed substantially in the direction of said web and having flanges disposed at an angle to said web, said web having sections oppositely extended from each of said post structures and respective marginal portions of said web sections being attached to opposite sides of each of said central bar portions and said combination further including an additional support member having a marginal portion of said web attached thereto.

-6. The structure of claim 5 in which said support member is of angular form in transverse section with lateral flanges disposed at an angle to each other and having a marginal portion of said web secured between said flanges at the angle vertex.

FREDERICK KAUTZ. 

